THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In Kerala also we have narcotic drug test kit that allows instant identification of the narcotic drugs seized, doing away with the need to send it to chemical laboratories.

The Excise department now has 21 kits supplied by Central Narcotics Bureau. But the examination using this is not done in an effective manner. Most of them will become obsolete as its 6-month expiry date is getting near. The cost of one kit is Rs 67,000.

The high court had ordered the supply of kits as former Kottayam DySP pointed out that such kits were supplied to Gujarat police.

The kits available with the Excise department are the ones manufactured by Pune Hindustan Antibiotics company. Police also are in possession of some kits. The UN is also supplying the Excise and the police kits free of cost. Since the Excise mostly deals with drug cases, police usually don’t conduct the examination.